A LOOK INTO EDUCATION

The school systems in Columbia and Richmond counties are home to some of the best schools in the state.

In Columbia County, Lakeside High School is host to the International Bacculaureate Programme.

Columbia County School District

Twenty-two of the districts 31 schools received a five- star rating for school climate.

In Richmond County, Cross Creek High School students are able to work with a curriculum focus on cyber security.

The Columbia Virtual Academy (CVA) was established for the 2021-2022 school year for students in grades 6-12 and provides rigorous, standardsbased, personalized instruction in a flexible virtual environment that meets the needs of CVA learners anywhere and anytime.

The Workplace Learning Initiative (Students 2 Work) will support the Richmond County School System’s vision: to create a world-class, globally competitive school system where all students will graduate and are college/career ready.

Both the Augusta Metro Chamber and the Columbia County Chamber are committed to helping area students succeed once they graduate.

The Workplace Learning Committee is a sub-committee of the Business Education Advisory Council (BEAC) in partnership with the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce. Our mission is to provide 250 high school students with opportunities to gain valuable hands-on work experience in local businesses within the metro Augusta area. This committee serves as an advocate for public education by helping to ensure a superior and competitive future workforce.

The Columbia County Chamber Foundation is working to build a stronger workforce for the future through our programs like the Career & College Expo and the Summer Internship Program. The Career & College Expo brings business and education together to allow students and parents from all over the CSRA the opportunity to meet key stakeholders in both of these areas on the same night. The goal of this event is to show a true path from high school to a future career, whether that includes a four year university, a technical college, a trade school, or directly going into the workforce, it’s a road to a future career.

In the spring of 2022, Junior Achievement of Georgia, in partnership with the Columbia and Richmond County School Boards announced the opening of the Junior Achievement Discovery Center.

“We are thrilled with the decisions of each of these Boards that will allow us to move into the CSRA with significant presence and impact,” said John Hancock, President and CEO, JA of Georgia. “We are thankful for the commitment of these two visionary superintendents and their boards, and we look forward to providing unmatched learning experiences that enable students to discover the possibilities that their futures can hold.”

The center, which will be housed in the Development Support Complex in Evans, will serve 15,000 middle school students annually and is expected to open in the fall of 2023. The center will provide students with continued exposure to future possibilites through two innovative programs:

JA BizTown – an unmatched experience designed for sixth grade students to interact with a simulated economy and take on the challenge of running a business.

JA Finance Park – will afford seventh and eighth grade students the unique opportunity to experience life as an adult and providing for the needs of their household.

DR. KENNETH BRADSHAW Superintendent Richmond County School District

“The Junior Achievement Discovery Center of the CSRA is an excellent example of community partners coming together to impact the lives of students in our area. We are excited to be a part of this collaboration with the Columbia County School District and Junior Achievement of Georgia to prepare our students for their futures and offer an innovative business curriculum beginning in the fall.”

– Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw

DR. STEVEN FLYNT Superintendent Columbia County School District

“The vision of the Columbia County School District is to lead the nation in educational excellence where each student is engaged, enriched, and inspired, and the Junior Achievement Discovery Center of the CSRA does just that. This unique learning experience will engage students in lessons that are enriched by a solid curriculum in financial literacy and economics and that will inspire our students for years to come. I sincerely appreciate the partnerships and supports of Junior Achievement of Georgia, our Partners in Education, and our community, for helping provide this educational opportunity that will greatly benefit the success of our students now, and in the future. ”

– Dr. Steven Flynt